President Trump was talking about shutting down the government if congress did not pass a funding bill that included money for Trump's WALL and tying other revenue and expenses to the overall bill that had to be passed by September 30, the end of the governments fiscal year to avoid a shutdown. The republicans in congress said there would be no government shutdown but some demanded attachments to the funding bill which was a non starter for the democrats who have always supported a stand alone bill to keep the government running.
The republicans shut the government down during the Obama administration for a short time because they wanted to tie the repeal and replacement of the ACA to the funding bill. The democrats in congress broke that with a clean CR and the shutdown ended. This time around, the President and the congress are controlled by the republican party and the party still wanted attachments to the bill. The democrats wanted a clean bill to deal with the funding to keep the government opened and proposed a clean spending bill and increase in the debt ceiling until December 8. That would give congress more time to address the issue with out shutting the government down. Trump accepted the proposal and the congress voted to approve.
But the republican controlled U.S. House needed the democratic vote for passage as 90 republicans voted no. The republicans wanted an extension beyond December 8, and the democrats objected. What Trump and the republicans should do between now and December 8 is come up with a clean funding bill with the democrats to fund the government thru the next fiscal year that will end on September 30, 2018. DACA, immigration reform and other issues should be handled separately to avoid future fiscal cliffs at the last moment.
Democrats have a better record at governing and accomplishing things and have put Trump and the republicans on notice they will fight for stand alone issues such as DACA, immigration reform and tax reform and not tie those issues to other legislation that can not pass or be so diluted will accomplishment nothing.
Here we are 22 days from September 30 and Trump and the republican controlled congress could not even agree on a stand alone funding bill and increase in the debt ceiling to keep the government open and they could not come to terms with their own selves and party and inform the people of their decision. It took the democratic leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi to make the case.
Now we will see the second time around, what actions Trump and the republicans take between now and December 8. Will they act timely and get the job done, or will they run the string out to the last minute and enact legislation that does not address the issues. Do they dare tell the American people how they will proceed?
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
